Future Security Initiative

Welcome

The Future Security Initiative (FSI) is a collaborative hub that reconceptualizes U.S. security policy towards a holistic engagement with current and future challenges by generating innovative ideas, a new security language, and transformative solutions grounded in concrete, transdisciplinary efforts to improve human flourishing and well-being. 

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The FSI is a partnership between Arizona State University, a top-ranked public research university defined not by who we exclude but who we include, and New America, a nimble nonpartisan DC-based think tank with a history of launching big ideas that impact policy. Together, we have assembled a growing team of academics, journalists, former military, and civil society experts as ASU faculty and New America fellows. We conduct ground-breaking research linking open-source investigations, field-based research, policy analysis and case studies to develop new approaches to pressing security issues. We also create unique educational programming, from an online professional MA in Global Security to certificates in competitive statecraft, irregular warfare, cybersecurity, and customizable programs linking cutting edge academic research with practical applications. We also present multiple public forums, live-streamed talks, podcasts, and high-impact publications that reach multiple audiences, including government officials, national thought leaders, students, and members of our local communities.

Meet our team

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Interdisciplinary policy-oriented research

The Center has created and managed research projects on moral injury, U.S. drone policy, open-source data analysis of security threats, weaponized narrative, oral histories on post-9/11 surveillance and detention, ISIS recruitment in Syria, and other issues.

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Creating a new model for security education

The Future Security Initiative runs the MA in Global Security, an interdisciplinary professional graduate program in the School of Politics and Global Studies. We are also currently developing new security certificates and other programs on cybersecurity, human rights, irregular warfare, and other themes through partnerships with, Kings College London, the University of New South Wales, Joint Special Operations University, U.S. Army NETCOM and others.

150

current students

300+

graduates

Organizing the Future Security Forum; one of the nation's major annual security meetings

The Future Security Initiative organizes a joint ASU/New America annual meeting on pressing security challenges with thought leaders from government, the media, the military, the academy, industry, and civil society, reaching thousands of attendees and viewers, and showcasing ASU’s growing profile as a university leader in interdisciplinary security policy.

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Over $1.5 million in research funding

The Center has managed over $1.5 million in grants.

 

Support from multiple foundations

We have received support from the Social Science Research Council, the Smith Richardson Foundation, the Ford Foundation, the Carnegie Corporation of New York, and the National Endowment for the Humanities, and others.

 

48 proposals submitted

The Center has submitted 48 proposals for research funding.

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Engaging students and the ASU and AZ communities

The Center has taught hundreds of students, mentored undergraduate and graduate students including over four dozen Student Research Fellows (including winners of Marshall and Fulbright awards), organized over 90 public lectures reaching more than 5,000 students, faculty, and members of the community, while also presenting over 30 lectures to area groups reaching more than 2,000 attendees.

Impactful output, significant awards and recognition

Center faculty and fellows have published articles in The New York Times Magazine, CNN, The Atlantic, Slate, Lawfare, Just Security, Foreign Policy, and major academic journals. The ASU/New America partnership has supported over 18 books published or in the pipeline, including several New York Times bestsellers. Center team members have been named Carnegie Fellows, and Social Science Research Council Fellows, and have been nominated and/or awarded: an Emmy, a Carnegie Fellowship, the Lionel Gelber Prize for best book by the Council on Foreign Relations, the National Magazine Award for Reporting, the Overseas Press Club Ed Cunningham Award, the Roy Rowan Award, Deadline Club Award for Magazine Investigative Reporting, and other prizes.

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